President Uwe Krickhahn welcomed everyone to the first meeting of November. November is Rotary Foundation month.
Uwe thanked Chris & Dawn for organizing the Club's Random Act of Kindness project. About a dozen members rode City Transit buses handing out free tickets. After spending 2 hours riding the differnt routes handing out tickets, remaining tickets we donated to the Salvation Army to distribute to their clients.
Total Cost of the project was $351.
Rotary Information
Since 2017 is the 100th Anniversary of The Rotary Foundation (TRF), all Rotarians are being encouraged to make a special donation of $26.50 to Polio Plus as well as $100 to TRF. To mark this anniversary, our Foundation Chair and the Board have developed a plan that could potential make our Club a 100% Paul Harris Club. Traditionally, the Club contributes 500 points toward a member's first Paul Harris Fellowship and the member contributes the rest. However, to celebrate this anniversary, it is being proposed that any non Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) willing to contribute at least $126.50 to The Rotary Foundation, will receive a PHF. More details will be presented in the near future.
Prospective Member:
The Membership Committee and the Board of Director have reviewed and approved Jonathan Usher for membership into the Club. Johnathan's proposed classification would be Small Business Adviser.
In accordance with Article VI, Section 5 of the Club Bylaws, a prospective member's name must be advertised in the Lubricator for 7 days and if no written objections are received, the prospective member may be considered eligible for induction into the Club.
Meeting Reminder:
As many in the club know, we recently had a couple of members resign, due to extreme hearing loss. Because hearing difficulties are experienced by a number of Rotarians and guests, one of our members put together a list of helpful reminders to ensure we do our best to accommodate those with auditory challenges.
- Speak slowly and distinctly. Slow, concise speech can be learned and become habit-forming.
- Use the "4 P's" - persistent,patient, practice with a positive attitude. Emphasize each key word in a sentence with a slight pause.
- USE the handheld microphone, both for comments and during club activities.
- Keep table conversation to a minimum, out of respect for those speaking and to avoid background noise that is distracting.
With a little practice, we can help everyone in the club both hear and understand, both as a courtesy and to help engage all members in the club.
Up Coming Events:
Bill Yuill will be speaking to the Club on November 14th. This may be a great meeting to bring a guest. Please respond to Heather's invitation to let us know how many people will be coming.
Evening Bingo on Sunday November 20th.
For more Club activities, to keep up with events and stay in touch, check the Club website at: www.medicinehatrotary.com
The lucky winner of a free lunch was Jason Hertz, who was not in attendance to collect a free lunch.
Birthdays:
Dave Stalwick November 8
Club Anniversaries:
Karen Blewett - November 6, 2006 - 10 years
Doug Fleming - November 7, 2005 - 11 years
Heather Bach - November 9, 2015 - 1 year
Cathie Catalano - November 9, 2015 - 1 year
Jason Hertz - November 9, 2015 - 1 year
Mark Sorenson - November 9, 2015 - 1 year
Weekly Draw:
Herman Wahl was the lucky winner of the weekly draw. Herman won a ceramic coffee mug.
Club 500
Next draw November 14th.
Chris Perret and Allan O'Bryne who are looking after this year Club 500 draw are handing out tickets packages for the 2017 draw. If you haven't received yours yet, please get hold of Chris or Allan. This is a very important fundraiser of the Music Festival, so please make every efforts to sell all your tickets. If you sell any out of province, put your own address or an Alberta address on the ticket. Any unsold tickets are to be returned by November 28th.
Make Ups
Anne Carrier reported she attended 2 Rotary meetings at the Mesa East Rotary Club. Anne is planning to help the Mesa club hand out dictionaries to grade 3 students.
10 Rotarians & 1 spouse handed out bus passes on Friday as part of Random Act of Kindness Day.
Family of Rotary
It was reported that former Rotarian Garth Vallely is still in the hospital, on 2 North. Garth would appreciate visitors.
Please keep Garth in your thoughts and prayers.
Future Programs
If you have any future program ideas, please e-mail Heather at heather.bach@ahs.ca.
Minute People:
Dawn Barr received 3 Thank you card from students the Club sent to RYPEN.
Dick Northcott reported he had just returned from Ethiopia & Malawi where he saw a hospital built with funds from Rotary. Dick said the locals asked the government for a hospital, but as part of the deal, they had to supply the bricks. Apparently they built enough bricks to construct the hospital and a residence. Dick said there are enough bricks left to construct a second residence, which he suggested might be a good project for Rotary.
Dick also made a pitch for the Canadian Humanitarian Fund Raiser Gala being held at Medalta this coming Friday. Milan has tickets if you are interested in attending.
Jenny presented a list of former Rotarians and asked anyone who knew these people to contact them.
Adolf thanked those Rotarians who have signed up to man the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles on December 3. There are still about 16 slots to filled. Allan O'Bryne sent out a Google Document which allows members to sign up online. If you can't access the online document, please contact Adolf or Allan.
Chris Perret thanked everyone who participated in Random Act of Kindness Day.
Happy Dollars & Fines: Today'sSgt-at-Arms was Adolf Seiler.
Fines:
Adolf was set to fine all members who weren't wearing a poppy. However, he let everyone off with a warning because the hotel did not have any poppies left for members who forgot.
Happy Dollars:
Jan Stalwick produced some happy cash for her recent trip to the US where she attended several additional courses in animal rehab and on behalf of her father for his birthday.
Linda donated $20 for a very successful Medalta Black & White gala. Linda reported Medalta received $75,000 for the Government, and $50,000 from IXL.
Kitt produced some happy dollars for Denise and Linda's pictures in the paper; for Don Davis' great job as MC at Concert Band's Tribute and because she found her phone that she left at the Lodge after last week's meeting.
Doug was also grateful for Don's good job as MC and for the outstanding Tribute Concert.
Unfortunately, Don was then fined for the glowing endorsements.
Jenny reported she tried to buy someone's lunch at Costco as part of Random Act of Kindness Day. She reported that didn't work out too well.
Dawn was happy her daughter's grade 6 class would be hold a Remembrance Day Service.
Dieter was thankful for the new roster, which were handed out today.
Kitt Brand spoke at Monday's meeting about the Waterton - Glacier International Peace Park. Kitt started her talk by giving a brief history of how the park was started by the Rotary Club of Cardston who hosted a meeting of 100 Rotarians from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana in July 1931. The group met with the goal to establish the first permanent International Peace Park because Rotarian had seen the horrors of the Great War and realized the world was heading for another conflict. This group of Rotarians managed to accomplish the unbelievable feat of convincing the Canadian and US governments to pass the legislation to establish Waterton - Glacier as the first International Peace Park in three months. Since that time, the park has hosted annual Hands Across the Border Assemblies and ceremonies, alternating between Waterton and East Glacier. To date, there are now 138 International Peace Parks throughout the world.
As part of 2016's 84th Hands Across the Border Assembly, an intensive International workshop was held. Delegates from 10 nations (Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, South America, Canada and the United States) around the world attended to promote transborder conservation, environment and international peace parks. In addition, Rotary Youth Exchange students participated. The workshop also celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the US National Parks Service. As a result of this workshop 17 projects were identified and started.
In closing, Kitt reminded us of the importance of these Peace Parks as they help us to remember, Rotarians promote peace. She also put in a plug to encourage more members to attend these ceremonies held every year in September. If you have never attended one of these assemblies, the Hands Across the Border ceremonies is a very powerful event that helps you appreciate how lucky we are to live in a country like Canada.
Brenda Bauman, President of the Rotary Music Festival Society provided the Club with a brief overview of the music festival. Brenda advised that planning for this years festival is underway. Last year, there were 1412 participants in the various disciplines of piano, strings, voice, choirs, speech arts, guitar, bands and instrumentals. Last year, $20,000 in awards were handout to participants.
Brenda advised festival is always looking for new or innovative ways to conduct events. Last year the Band Festival was moved back to the schools wit the adjudicators moving from school to school rather than the bands traveling. The band teacher like this arrangement and find it better for the students. Brenda also advised that in guitar, they opened up more classes with less classical music to encourage more participation. In fact, one school has 25 guitars and their class participated in the festival helping to increase the numbers in guitar. Similarly, as part of Dr. Roy Wilson's estate, money was donated to RiverHeights School to purchase 25 mini violins. It is hoped that these students will take part of the festival in years to come.
As you can image, it takes a lot of work to host this festival. Brenda reported 55 ladies run the various venture during the two week period. In addition, about 40 members of the Club and friends of Rotary help man the venue doors and information desk.
Brenda reported that participants in our festival who went on to the Provincial and National festivals did well.
This year's music festival runs from March 5th to 19th with the Rose Bowl competition on Friday March 17th and the Stars of the Festival evening on March 19th.
In closing, Brenda thanked the Rotary Club for its continued support through fund raising efforts and volunteering at the festival.
